This is the video of St.Peter Church,I wish you will like it.



YouTube (2008). St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, Italy. Retrieved October 30,2008, from

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHDuWE88Q3o&feature=related#

Are you attracted by the above picture? It is the Trevi Fountain (Italian: Fontana di Trevi), which is the most ambitious of the Baroque fountains of Rome and located in the rione of Trevi. The Fountain is 25.9 meters (85 feet) high and 19.8 meters (65 feet) wide.








Coin throwing

According to traditional rumour, if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome. People believe that two coins will lead to a new romance and three will guarantee either a marriage or divorce. Hence, people usually throw three coins into the fountain. A reported current version of the legend is that it is lucky to throw three coins with one's right hand over one's left shoulder.


Approximately 3,000 Euros are thrown into the fountain each day and are collected at night. The money is used to subsidize a supermarket for Rome's needy. However, there are regular attempts to steal coins from the fountain, including some using a magnetized pole.

Trevi Fountain is another hot scenic spot in Rome. So, it is very hard to approach the Fountain, especially in the peak seasons in Italy. For myself, I could not squeeze into the crowd and I went to shopping with my mother as the Fountain was very close to one famous shopping streets. I forget the name of that street but I took some photos there.

Could you see the two men in green behind me in the photo? Do you know who they were? I consider it is impossible to see them on the streets in Asian countries. They were policemen who were on patrol. In ancient European countries, police went patrolling by riding a horse instead of going on foot. Did they look awesome on the horses?

One of the reasons for my wish of visiting Rome again is that I did not have time to visit all of the shops on that street because of my father's urgency.

Reference List :

Wikipedia (2008). Trevi Fountain & photos. Retrieved October, 12, 2008 from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevi_Fountain

Without saying, you must recognize the picture above is Coliseum that is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering. Its construction began between 70 and 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under Titus. Thus, it has another name, "Amphitheatrum Flavium", derived from both Vespasian's and Titus's family name.

Inside the Coliseum, you can see the Arena and hypogeum. The Arena comprises wooden floor covered by sand, and itself covers an elaborate underground structure called the hypogeum, that not like the Arena, is still clearly visible.

The hypogeum consists of a two-level underground network of tunnels and cages beneath the arena where gladiators and animals were kept before contests starts ( as the above picture shown). It is connected by underground tunnels to a number of points outside the Coliseum. Animals and performers were brought through the tunnel from nearby stables, with the gladiators' barracks at the Ludus Magnus to the east also being connected by tunnels.

There are also tunnels for the Emperor and the Vestal Virgins. They had privilege to enter and exit the Coliseum without needing to pass through the crowds.

Substantial quantities of machinery were used in the hypogeum, for instance, elevators and pulleys. They raised and lowered scenery and props, as well as lifting caged animals to the surface for release.

Although the entrance fee of the Coliseum is very expensive, it is worth visiting, especially to people who study Rome History and architecture. You will be bewitched by the splendor of Coliseum once you go inside.

I recommend you to travel Coliseum in spring and autumn as in summer (I visited there in June) is very hot and a peek season in Italy. Every famous scenic spot is filled with a crowd of people. You will feel like being in the market rather than at the impressive remains of Roman Times in Italy!

Here are some videos of Coliseum; I hope you enjoy watching them.

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Reference Lists:

Wikipedia. (2008). Coliseum & Pictures. Retrieved from September, 21, 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum/div>div> /div>


Youtube (2008). Inside Colosseum. Retrieved from September, 21, 2008,

http://www.youtube.com/v/Uk9V_Ybo8hQ&amp



Youtube (2008). Hypogeum .Retrieved from September, 12,2008,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO1NQy4oyJs

Italy has significantly contributed to the cultural and social development of the entire Mediterranean area, deeply affecting European culture as well. Important cultures and civilizations have been there since prehistoric times.

Italy has a long history, however, I am particular interested in the Roman Republic and Empire as a lot of historical legacies were built in these period. Besides, their people made profound contributions to the development of European philosophy, science, and art during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

I would like to refer to the history of Rome. In accordance with the legend, Rome was discovered in 753BC by the twin brothers, Romulus and Remus, and was then governed by Kings of Rome. The last of seven kings of Rome, Tarquinius Superbus was overthrown in 509BC and the Roman Republic was established. Julius Caesar and Augustus (as shown in the above picture) were the most famous persons in the period. The former was a Roman military and political leader. He played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. The latter was the first emperor of the Roman Empire as well as the nephew of Julius Caesar.

Apart from that, the month of August (Latin: Augustus) is named after him ; till his time it was called Sextilis (named so because it had been the sixth month of the original Roman calendar and the Latin word for six was sex). Commonly-repeated lore is that August has 31 days because Augustus wanted his month to match the length of Julius Caesar's July, however, this is an invention of the 13th century English scholar Johannes de Sacrobosco. Sextilis in reality had 31 days before it was renamed, and it was not chosen for its length. Sextilis was renamed to cherish the memory of Augustus as several of the most significant events in his rise to power.

After all, I hope you enjoy reading the above history and you can read it more on this web : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Italy_during_Roman_times

Wikipedia (2008).History of Italy, 21,Aug,08. Retrieved from
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Italy

I am very glad to have you visiting my blog! As I said in the first post, I went to Italy with my parents in June, and it was my first trip to Europe. So,I decide to choose Italy as my e-portfolio topic.I hope my blog will not make you feel boring.

In my blog, you will first read a brief history of Italy(Roman Times).Then,I will show you the beautiful photos of the most famous historical legacies in Rome such as Coliseum,Trevi Fountain and St Peter church and tell you their histories afterwards. Besides, you can also watch the videos of Coliseum and St.Peter church.

At last, I will express my feeling for Rome and respond to your comments .

Proposal

Audience : Friends, Family members and lecturers

Topic-First trip to Europe (Italy)

Outline :

'Reflective e-portfolio'- Multi media showcasing

Platform : Blogger

Plan:

(i.) Collection: viedo of Vatican, pictures and history books of Italy ( 12th Aug- 19th Aug)

(ii.) Selection- Access/Decide 20 to 26 Aug

(iii.) Reflection-Design/Plan ( Platform & Tools) 27 Aug to 30 Sep

(iv.) Projection- Develop /Implement-Connect portfolios 1 Oct to 30 Oct

(v.) Presentation portfolio - The Presentation Portfolio/Evaluation 31 Oct to 15 Nov

The arrangment of webpages

Home page : Greeting to the visitors , brief outline of the e-portfolio

(1.) History of Italy (texts)

(2.) Historical Legacies (pictures and texts),St.Peter Church (video and pictures)

(3.) Personal Reflection

I already mentioned that I went to Italy during the mid-term break in June in my last post. Some of my news friends are very interested in where I visited in Rome. I attached two of the photos in Rome to this post. They were taken on 25 and 26 of June at 'Paizza Navona' . As you can see, there are no skyscrapers in the pictures as well as in Rome. Let me tell the history of 'Paizza Navona'. 'Piazza Navona' is a city square in Rome, It follows the plan of an ancient Roman circus, the first century Stadium of Domitian, where the Romans came to watch the agones ("games"). It was known as 'Circus Agonalis' (competition arena). It is thought that over time the name changed to 'in agone' to 'navone' and eventually to 'navona'. Besides, the obelisk behind me is called ' Agonalis' , it is 30m height. It was made in Rome as copy of ancient Egyptian original in 1651 by Bernini, who was a pre-eminent Baroque sculptor and architect of 17th century Rome.

Reference List:

Wikipedia (2008). Paizza Navona. Retreived 3,Augest,08 from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadium_of_Domitian